Criteria for AOSA-Approved Orff Schulwerk Teacher Education Courses
1. Forms are available on the AOSA Web site, www.aosa.org/professional.html. All forms must be submitted in electronic format.
2. When major personnel, levels offered, or other significant changes occur from the previous year, the course director should use the Course Approval Long Form, available www.aosa.org/professional.html. Otherwise, use of the Short Form is acceptable.
3. Institutions applying for Orff Teacher Education Course Approval must hold a current AOSA Library/Institutional Subscription to The Orff Echo.
4. Institutions applying for Orff Teacher Education Course Approval must design their course(s) according to the Guidelines for Orff Schulwerk Teacher Education Courses Levels I, II, III, revised 1997 (available at http://www.aosa.org/professional.html).
5. The three aspects of the core curriculum (Basic Orff Pedagogy, Recorder and Movement) shall be taught separately at each level. Levels I, II and III must have at least two instructors per level.
6. There shall be a minimum of 60 contact hours per level.
7. The following minimum numbers of participants are strongly recommended for approved Orff Schulwerk education courses:
Level I – 14
Level II – 8
Level III – 8
Courses that consistently run below these minimum numbers will be evaluated and may be denied course approval.
8. All courses in Orff Schulwerk taken at the undergraduate level should be considered Introductory Courses.
a. All Basic Orff / Pedagogy teachers must have successfully completed an apprenticeship or must have taught Basic Orff / Pedagogy at any level at an approved AOSA course prior to 1993.
b. Instructors of Level II must have taught Level I for a minimum of two years. Instructors of Level III must have taught Level II for a minimum of two years.
c. Recorder teachers must have completed a Level III Orff Schulwerk course.
d. Movement teachers must have completed a Level III Orff Schulwerk course, or taught movement in an approved course before 2010.
Please note: This change in requirement is effective January 1, 2010.
e. Basic Orff, recorder, and movement teachers must be members of AOSA for course approval.
10. A $50 administrative filing fee must paid with each application/renewal form. This fee should be submitted to AOSA Headquarters.
11. AOSA evaluation forms for Teacher Education Courses must be submitted no more than two weeks after course completion in order to renew course approval. In the event any course is canceled, the AOSA Education Director must be notified immediately.
12. The major philosophy and purpose of Education Courses submitted for initial approval will be that of Orff Schulwerk.
13. Approval will be granted to each course that meets the criteria. Application for approval must be submitted to the AOSA Education Director, who will e-mail notifications regarding course approval on a rolling basis as applications are submitted.
The American Orff-Schulwerk Association strongly encourages members to be positive and discreet when discussing our organization, specific courses and/or teachers and the Orff movement. The very nature of the Orff Schulwerk philosophy embodies a broad spectrum of expressions exploring different paths to arrive at artistic and educational goals. Members are encouraged to recognize and remain open to varied approaches and to celebrate both our differences and our similarities.